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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the eligibility of educational aides for tuition |
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exemptions at public institutions of higher education. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 54.214(c), (f), and (g), Education |
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Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(c) To be eligible for an exemption under this section, a |
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person must: |
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(1) be a resident of this state; |
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(2) be a school employee serving in any capacity; |
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(3) for the initial term or semester for which the |
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person receives an exemption under this section, have worked as an |
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educational aide for at least one school year during the five years |
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preceding that term or semester; |
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(4) establish financial need as determined by |
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coordinating board rule; |
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(5) be enrolled at the institution of higher education |
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granting the exemption in courses required for teacher |
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certification in one or more subject areas determined by the Texas |
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Education Agency to be experiencing a critical shortage of teachers |
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at the public schools in this state [at the institution of higher
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education granting the exemption]; |
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(6) maintain an acceptable grade point average as |
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determined by coordinating board rule; and |
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(7) comply with any other requirements adopted by the |
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coordinating board under this section. |
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(f) The board of trustees of a school district shall |
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establish a plan to encourage the hiring of educational aides who |
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show a willingness to become certified teachers in one or more |
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subject areas determined by the Texas Education Agency to be |
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experiencing a critical shortage of teachers at the public schools |
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in this state. |
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(g) The governing board of an institution of higher |
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education that offers courses required for teacher certification in |
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one or more subject areas determined by the Texas Education Agency |
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to be experiencing a critical shortage of teachers at the public |
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schools in this state shall establish a plan to make those courses |
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more accessible to those who seek teacher certification. The board |
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shall consider as part of its plan to make those courses more |
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accessible for teacher certification, evening classes, Internet |
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classes, or other means approved by the Texas Higher Education |
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Coordinating Board. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies |
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beginning with tuition and fees charged for the 2011 fall semester. |
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Tuition and fees charged for a term or semester before the 2011 fall |
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semester are covered by the law in effect immediately before the |
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effective date of this Act, and the former law is continued in |
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effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |